Transcript European Service Centre: Preliminary Concept Heike Wirth, Christof Wolf (GESIS) 1st European Data Access Forum Luxembourg, March 27-28, 2012

European Service Centre:
Preliminary Concept
Heike Wirth, Christof Wolf (GESIS)
1st European Data Access Forum
Luxembourg, March 27-28, 2012
Overview
1. Objectives
2. Rationale and Scope
3. Tasks
- Web service for OS microdata
- Promote use of OS microdata
- Improve data access
4. Implementation
5. Comments and Discussion
27.03.2012
European Service Centre
2
Objectives
Facilitate scientific use of European OS-microdata by:
1. Provide information on access conditions
2. Provide data documentation
3. Provide routines for data management & analysis
4. Support transnational data access
5. Institutionalize dialogue between researchers,
data producers and data distributers
27.03.2012
European Service Centre
3
Rationale and Scope
• OS-microdata are a valuable addition to social
surveys and broaden the database for social
research
• Large sample sizes make OS-microdata well
suited for analysis of subgroups
• A number of European programmes such as SILC,
LFS or census data offer many opportunities for
cross-national comparisons
• However these data sources are still vastly
underutilized today
27.03.2012
European Service Centre
4
Google Scholar Hits for publications since 2006
“ISSP”
11400
“WVS”
5250
“European Social Survey”
4430
“EU-SILC”
2330
“European Labor Force
Survey”
599
27.03.2012
European Service Centre
5
Rationale and Scope
• A European Service Centre for official microdata will
offer services for both integrated European and
National OS-microdata, including census data
• For Eurostat datasets a vast amount of metadata is
available – however no structured database exists
• Documentation for national OS-microdata throughout
Europe is widely disparate and there exists no
centralized overview of available datasets
• Services for census data at IECM should be integrated
into the new service centre
27.03.2012
European Service Centre
6
Tasks
1. Establish a comprehensive web service for
European OS-microdata & census data
2. Promote use of OS-microdata by hosting
training courses, organizing user conferences
and by incentivizing research
3. Coordinate data access by organizing Data
Access Forums and assisting the European
Statistical System in administration of
transnational access
27.03.2012
European Service Centre
7
Tasks – Web Service
• Web service will function as a one-stop-shop for
researcher needs regarding European OS-microdata
• This web service will be comprised of:
a) extensive metadata for European OS-microdata
b) An online library hosting technical reports, survey
instruments and scientific papers on OS-microdata
c) Routines for data preparation and analysis
d) An interactive platform where users can seek advice
from experts, discuss with other users and provide
input
27.03.2012
European Service Centre
8
Tasks – Web Service
27.03.2012
European Service Centre
9
Tasks – Promote use of OS-data
• Organize introductory and advanced training
courses on methodological and substantive
research questions based on these data
• Host user conferences where researchers can
present their findings, connect with other
researchers and discuss data needs with
producers
• Incentivize research by implementing a research
award, subsidizing data use for young researchers,
etc.
27.03.2012
European Service Centre
10
Tasks – Improve Data Access
• Broadening access to integrated European official
microdata, e.g. Time Budget Survey, Census
Microdata
• Lobby for expansion of transnational access
networks and harmonization of conditions of use
throughout Europe
• Assist researchers seeking transnational access by
informing them on access conditions, access sites
and application procedures
27.03.2012
European Service Centre
11
Implementation
• The European Service Centre could be a
subunit of the planned CESSDA-ERIC
• It could either be centralized with own staff or
be maintained through the existing CESSDA
network
• Individual CESSDA partners should contribute
to the centre; for example by providing data
documentation and expertise for their
respective countries
27.03.2012
European Service Centre
12
Implementation: Institutional Framework
27.03.2012
European Service Centre
13
Implementation
• As a part of the CESSDA-ERIC the European Service
Centre can benefit from existing knowledge and
connections of the CESSDA network
• The service centre should be the communication
channel between the research community and the
European Statistical System
• A governing board should be implemented in
which representatives from EU Statistical System,
the research community and other stakeholders
assist the development of the service centre
27.03.2012
European Service Centre
14
Comments and Discussion
• Which of the activities should we give
priority?
• Which elements of the proposed Service
Centre should have less priority?
• Do you see important issues we have missed?
• How should cooperation between the ESS and
the Service Centre be organized?
• How can emerging trends be recognized and
integrated into the service?
27.03.2012
European Service Centre
15
Thank you for your attention!
27.03.2012
European Service Centre
16